William stewart hughes



(No Model.)

W. S. HUGHES.

STEAM ENGINE (moss HEAD. No. 458,054. Patented Aug. 18,1891.

IIV VEN TOR WITNESSES:

=4. ATTORNEY.

r1. uunms Penis m, mono-mm, msmunrou n c UNr-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ILLIAM STEWART HUGHES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STEAM-ENGINE CROSS-HEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,054, dated August18, 1891.

Application filed November 28, 1890. Serial No. 372,853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM STEWART HUGHES, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New York city, in the county and State of New York,have invented anew and useful Improvement in Steam-Engine Cross-Heads,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the cross-heads ofsteam-engines, and has for its object to provide a means whereby thevalve-rod or piston may be attached to the cross-head without threadingthe rod or piston or employing a key, cotter, or similar device.

A further object of the invention is to so unite a cross-head with apiston that a secure connection will be effected and the piston rotatedor turned around to another position without altering the distance fromthe center of the cross-head to the face of the piston, and whereby alsothe cross-head and piston may be conveniently and expeditiouslydisconnected, when desired, without injury to either.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set-forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one section of a cross-head, theconnected piston being in side elevation also. Fig. 2 is an end view ofthe complete cross-head. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1,illustrating a slightly-modified form of the cross-head, the pistonhaving a corresponding form; and Fig. 4. is an end view of the modifiedform of cross-head.

Heretofore it has been the almost invariable practice to fasten orattach cross-heads to valve-rods or piston-rods by a screw-thread andlock-nut or by a key or cotter. The former method is not a secure one,inasmuch as the piston-rod is liable to become loose while working, andby the latter method the rod is weakened by cutting a hole through it toreceive the key or cotter at a point already weakened by the necessaryreduction to fit the cross-head. The latter method is also open to theobjection that it is difficult to separate the piston-rod from thecross-head for re pairs, the rods clinging to the cross-head at times tosuch an extent as to involve an almost total destruction of thecross-head before the separation is efiected.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 1, and likewise in the formillustrated in Fig.3, the cross-head A is made in two sections A and AEach cross-head is provided with a longitudinal bore adapted to receiveene end of a piston or valve rod B.

In the form of the cross-head illustrated in Fig. 1 the bore is agradually-tapering one, and in the walls of the bore diametricalrecesses a are produced at proper intervals apart, as illustrated indotted lines, Fig. 2. The end of the piston or valve rod B, adapted toenter the cross-head, is tapered to correthe diameter of the taperedportion of the rod corresponds to the diameter of the bore in which itis to be inserted. The piston or valve rod has produced upon itsperipheral tapered surface a series of annular ribs 0, the said ribscorresponding in number and location to the number and location of thediametrical grooves a in the cross-head. When the two sections of thecross-head have been placed in position around the valve or piston rod,said sections are firmly tied together by bolts E or equivalentfastening devices, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3 the bore in the cross-head is madein the shape of a reverse taper, and near the ends of the borediametrical grooves or recesses a are also produced. The piston or valverod B at the end adapted to enter the cross-head has a reverse taper I)produced upon its outer face, and an annular rib G is formed upon therod at each extremity of the tapered surface. The sec the cross-head isfitted to the rod, and the lining may be employed as a gage forpreparing the rod to fit the cross-head.

Having thus described my invention, I

spond to the taper of the cross-head bore, and

tions of the cross-head are secured together provided with a reversetapering bore, and diametrical channels in the walls of the bore, of avalve or piston rod having a reverse taper produced upon the exteriorsurface at one end corresponding to the taper of the crosshead bore, andannular ribs adapted to enter the channels in the walls of thecross-head bore, the said ribs corresponding in number and location tosaid channels, as and for the purpose specified.

WILLIAM STEVART HUGHES. Witnesses:

RALPH MILLER, J ENN-IE MILLER.

